Orissa to link 5550 villages under PMGSY

Bhubaneswar, Mar 14 (UNI) The Orissa government has targetted to link 5550 villages with road connectivity under Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana(PMGSY) by 2009,Rural Development Minister Biswa Bhushan Harichandan told the state assembly today.

Replying to a debate on the discussion for grants for Rural Development Department,the minister said the state had secured top position in the implementation of the scheme in the country.

He said during the current financial year, 3316 villages with more than one thousand population and 2234 villages with more than 500 population would be brought under the scheme through Bharat Nirman programme.

Mr Harichandan said steps had been taken to construct 1500 kms of new roads and develop 500 kms of existing roads during 2008-09.

He said budgetary provision was made to construct 33 bridges, 330.82 kms during 2008-09 with assistance from NABARD.

Similarly plan had been made to complete 221 road projects at an estimated cost of Rs 135 crore and to construct 2237 buildings at a cost of Rs41.79 crore during the current financial year.

The Minister said a sum of Rs515.58 crore had been earmarked for rural water supply scheme during the current budget. Steps had been taken to provide piped water to high populated villages through Jaladhara scheme and to provide drinking water to 1000 residential Tribal welfare schools.

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